Taconic State Parkway crash kills Columbia County man

AUSTERLITZ, N.Y. -- A 49-year-old Philmont man was killed in a car accident Monday evening while driving home from work, state police said Tuesday.

Daniel Friebe was southbound on the Taconic State Parkway in the town of Austerlitz when his Honda Accord went off the roadway and into the median at about 4:45 p.m., said Investigator Abdul Weed of the state police barracks at Livingston. Weed said the vehicle struck some bushes and a tree before stopping.

A passerby saw the vehicle and called 911, Weed said. Friebe, who was found in the vehicle wearing his seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene, Weed said.

Weed said Friebe was alone in the car when the accident occurred. He said Friebe was on his way home from work in Watervliet.

Advertisement

An autopsy was performed Tuesday at St. Peter's Hospital, but further studies are pending and the cause of the crash is still under investigation, Weed said.

Traffic was reduced to one lane for a time after the accident, Weed said.

State police were assisted by the Austerlitz Fire Department and Chatham Rescue.